A question about taking a nine year old turkey hunting

[jaycee]

Here is another example of a thread descending into stupidity...enough already.

And we can see who is causing it , the guy who posted the thread above yours.
How can we get this BS to stop?

[jaycee]

X2............Totally agree, he just can’t stop and won’t go away no matter how many times told.............

I truly believe he is one of these;

The Persistent Debate Troll
This type of troll loves a good argument. They can take a great, thoroughly researched and fact-based piece of content, and come at it from all opposing discussion angles to challenge its message. They believe they're right, and everyone else is wrong. You'll often also find them leaving long threads or arguments with other commenters in community comment sections, and they're always determined to have the last word – continuing to comment until that other user gives up.

[chomper]

Sorry but I didn't even want to respond to that guy after he suggested that by taking a boy hunting before the age of twelve it was a slippery slope that would eventually turn him into a poacher..That's insulting.. But I got a feeling he would go on and on so I just bit my lip and let it go..This Boy loves going out hunting with his father, can shoot a twenty pretty darn good and comes from a good family with a long tradition of hunting and fishing. (They buy hunting licences every year, abide by game laws practice conservation and contribute to habitat enhancement..) and now by my understanding someone made a law making it illegal for any child under the age of twelve to go hunting with their Mother or father or Grandparents.. I wonder how this helps protect our hunting heritage. The mentorship program is great for introducing people outside our hunting community to experience the wonders of our sport but if the grandfathers, grandmothers, fathers or mothers feel their child is mature enough to go hunting with them and even take a shot then in my opinion (only my opinion) so be it.. Thank you for all your responses. I will not comment on this any further.

[Dythbringer]

I see this has descended nicely into a back and forth. Figured I would add my 2 cents.

The 9 year old won't be charged with anything (a youth has to be 12). However, I think dad needs to really stop and think what lessons he will be imparting on his son. Every year, we get have posts on this forum about poachers not following game laws or hearing gunshots 15 minutes before legal light or hunters trespassing on land which doesn't belong to them or don't have permission to be on, et cetera. Somewhere along the line, those hunters were not taught to respect our game laws. How many times have we had threads on this forum where the OP finds themselves complaining that they are in a legal bind because they chose to ignore the game laws?

Will allowing the 9 year old to shoot the bird lead to a life of poaching and ignoring game laws? Probably not. However, there is an old saying that you reap what you sow. What about the next time or the time after that? We need to teach the next generation of hunters good hunting habits and in my opinion, a part of good hunting habits include following the laws. Driving & speeding were touched on as an example. When you are being taught to drive, do you teach the learning driver to follow the speed limit or do you teach them speeding is acceptable?

The 9 year old will have hunting memories because he got to spent time in the field with dad, not because he got to shoot the turkey. However, the OP's buddy will do whatever he wants.

[finsfurfeathers]

Sorry but I didn't even want to respond to that guy after he suggested that by taking a boy hunting before the age of twelve it was a slippery slope that would eventually turn him into a poacher..That's insulting.. But I got a feeling he would go on and on so I just bit my lip and let it go..This Boy loves going out hunting with his father, can shoot a twenty pretty darn good and comes from a good family with a long tradition of hunting and fishing. (They buy hunting licences every year, abide by game laws practice conservation and contribute to habitat enhancement..) and now by my understanding someone made a law making it illegal for any child under the age of twelve to go hunting with their Mother or father or Grandparents.. I wonder how this helps protect our hunting heritage. The mentorship program is great for introducing people outside our hunting community to experience the wonders of our sport but if the grandfathers, grandmothers, fathers or mothers feel their child is mature enough to go hunting with them and even take a shot then in my opinion (only my opinion) so be it.. Thank you for all your responses. I will not comment on this any further.

Just to be clear taking anyone hunting with you is not an issue and encouraged. The only stipulation is they can't actually assist in the hunt.
So yes a 9 year old or even younger can go on the hunt. Pulling the trigger definitely crosses the line into a clearly contravention of the regulations.

[finsfurfeathers]

I see this has descended nicely into a back and forth. Figured I would add my 2 cents.

The 9 year old won't be charged with anything (a youth has to be 12). However, I think dad needs to really stop and think what lessons he will be imparting on his son. Every year, we get have posts on this forum about poachers not following game laws or hearing gunshots 15 minutes before legal light or hunters trespassing on land which doesn't belong to them or don't have permission to be on, et cetera. Somewhere along the line, those hunters were not taught to respect our game laws. How many times have we had threads on this forum where the OP finds themselves complaining that they are in a legal bind because they chose to ignore the game laws?

Will allowing the 9 year old to shoot the bird lead to a life of poaching and ignoring game laws? Probably not. However, there is an old saying that you reap what you sow. What about the next time or the time after that? We need to teach the next generation of hunters good hunting habits and in my opinion, a part of good hunting habits include following the laws. Driving & speeding were touched on as an example. When you are being taught to drive, do you teach the learning driver to follow the speed limit or do you teach them speeding is acceptable?

The 9 year old will have hunting memories because he got to spent time in the field with dad, not because he got to shoot the turkey. However, the OP's buddy will do whatever he wants.

said better than I could

[jaycee]

I see this has descended nicely into a back and forth. Figured I would add my 2 cents.

The 9 year old won't be charged with anything (a youth has to be 12). However, I think dad needs to really stop and think what lessons he will be imparting on his son. Every year, we get have posts on this forum about poachers not following game laws or hearing gunshots 15 minutes before legal light or hunters trespassing on land which doesn't belong to them or don't have permission to be on, et cetera. Somewhere along the line, those hunters were not taught to respect our game laws. How many times have we had threads on this forum where the OP finds themselves complaining that they are in a legal bind because they chose to ignore the game laws?

Will allowing the 9 year old to shoot the bird lead to a life of poaching and ignoring game laws? Probably not. However, there is an old saying that you reap what you sow. What about the next time or the time after that? We need to teach the next generation of hunters good hunting habits and in my opinion, a part of good hunting habits include following the laws. Driving & speeding were touched on as an example. When you are being taught to drive, do you teach the learning driver to follow the speed limit or do you teach them speeding is acceptable?

The 9 year old will have hunting memories because he got to spent time in the field with dad, not because he got to shoot the turkey. However, the OP's buddy will do whatever he wants.

Very well stated Dyth!
There is an old saying, " The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree ",the young boy will learn whatever , be it good or bad, Legal/ illegal and this is usually what they carry with them the rest of their lives.